King Long and Saudi Arabia’s NTC Celebrate 20 Years of Partnership, Setting a New Benchmark for the "Belt and Road" Initiative

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — As the "Belt and Road" Initiative (BRI) continues to align with Saudi Vision 2030, Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. ("King Long") and Saudi Arabia’s National Trade Company (NTC) celebrated their 20th anniversary of strategic cooperation. This milestone marks two decades of transforming Saudi Arabia’s public transportation landscape through Chinese manufacturing excellence and green innovation.

Breaking Monopolies with "Quality First"

Twenty years ago, the Saudi high-end bus market was dominated by European and American legacy brands. King Long entered the market with a "quality-first" strategy, undergoing rigorous "trust tests" to prove the durability of Chinese-made vehicles in extreme Middle Eastern conditions.

The turning point came in 2011, when King Long secured a landmark order for 150 luxury coaches, successfully breaking the long-standing monopoly of European brands. Today, King Long is the largest Chinese bus brand in Saudi Arabia by volume, particularly within the critical Hajj pilgrimage service sector.

A Legacy of Large-Scale Impact

The partnership has hit several historic milestones over the last two decades:

• 2015: Deployment of 1,140 intelligent school buses, creating a safety-first transit network for Saudi students.

• 2019: Delivery of 894 luxury 12-meter coaches to support the logistics and transportation of the Hajj in Mecca.

• Current: King Long has moved beyond "product export" to a comprehensive strategy of "brand, technology, and culture export," adapting vehicles specifically for high temperatures and sandstorms.

Vision 2030 and the Green Transition

At the anniversary ceremony in Jeddah, King Long Chairman Hou Chenlei and NTC Chairman Dr. Hamed were joined by officials from the Saudi Transport Authority, the Ministry of Hajj, and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce.

King Long utilized the event to debut a new lineup of pure electric vehicles (EVs) engineered for the Saudi climate. "Saudi Vision 2030 aligns perfectly with global sustainability trends," stated Chairman Hou Chenlei. "Our new energy solutions will provide greener, smarter, and more efficient mobility, supporting Saudi Arabia’s leap toward a sustainable future."

Beyond Manufacturing: The "King Long Solution"

King Long’s success is attributed to its "localized customization" and a "gold-standard" service network, including dedicated spare parts centers and expert technical teams stationed permanently in the Kingdom.

Looking forward, the collaboration will focus on New Quality Productive Forces, spanning:

• Technological Routes: Continued development in Pure Electric, Hybrid, and Hydrogen fuel cell technologies.

• Talent Cultivation: Advancing the "Maritime Silk Road Academy" to train local Saudi technicians and engineers.

• Smart Mobility: Deepening research into autonomous driving and intelligent electronic architectures.

This 20-year journey stands as a vivid example of China-Arab cooperation, proving that the synergy between "Eastern Wisdom" and "Gulf Ambition" can lead the global transition toward low-carbon public transportation.

About King Long

Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. is a leading global bus manufacturer. With a focus on innovation and green energy, King Long provides comprehensive transport solutions across five continents, driving the evolution of intelligent and sustainable mobility.